A major investigation by LRT has revealed that some lawyers and politicians in Lithuania are secretly funded by the Kremlin.
Kremlin’s Hidden Network Funds Lawyers and Politicians in Lithuania
Leaked files show how Russia supports people abroad to promote its interests through the Foundation for the Protection of the Rights of Compatriots Living Abroad, known as Pravfond.
Created in 2011 by order of President Putin and overseen by Russia’s Foreign Ministry, Pravfond is led by former ambassador Alexander Udaltsov. Intelligence agencies in Lithuania and other countries confirm the foundation’s close ties to Russian security services. Pravfond provides funding for propagandists, pro-Russian activists, spies, and attorneys who defend them.
Notably, Pravfond financed the legal defense of Viktor Bout, a notorious Russian arms dealer.The foundation has been subject to sanctions since June 2023 because of its involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Nearly 49,000 emails and 22,000 documents are among the hacked information, which were acquired by Danish broadcaster DR and distributed throughout the world. LRT’s investigation uncovered detailed payment requests and internal records, providing clear proof of Kremlin funding to key activists and lawyers in Lithuania.
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Lithuanian Lawyers and Politicians Tied to Kremlin Funding
Among the Lithuanians involved, lawyer Ryšardas Burda is a key figure. Known for defending those accused in the 1991 January 13 case—when Soviet forces tried to overthrow Lithuania’s government, causing 14 deaths—Burda has a background in law enforcement and anti-corruption. In 2022, police warned he might threaten national security due to frequent appearances on Russian pro-Kremlin media. He is closely linked to retired general Valdas Tutkus, leader of the political group Alternative for Lithuania.
Pravfond has been providing Kremlin financing to Burda since at least 2018. Stanislovas Tomas, Edikas Jagelavičius, and Algirdas Paleckis—who was imprisoned for spying for Russia—are among the other Lithuanians who have received funding. Additionally, Pravfond backed pro-Russian activists like as Kazimieras Juraitis and Viačeslavas Titovas.
Burda requested over €60,000 from Pravfond to defend Kremlin-linked figures in the January 13 case, such as Mikhail Golovatov, Yuri Mel, and Valery Ivanov. Emails reveal disputes over funding Ivanov’s defense, while records confirm Burda received at least €40,000 for defending Mel.
After EU sanctions on Pravfond in 2023, Burda began receiving payments through Russia’s Sberbank and suggested using Russian email services. Burda declined to comment. Tutkus acknowledged his close ties with Burda and showed no concern over Kremlin links.
Kremlin’s Strategy to Influence Lithuania Through Funding
Pravfond has sent more than $6 million between 2012 and 2024 to assist Kremlin-affiliated activities in Western nations, including the Baltic states, according to leaked documents. Despite EU sanctions on Russian banks, recipients continued using Russian accounts to bypass restrictions, showing a clear effort to maintain funding.
The money went to lawyers, politicians, and activists defending Russian interests, many connected to sensitive cases like Lithuania’s January 13 events. The emails also show detailed coordination between Pravfond and its recipients regarding payments, legal defenses, and contacts with Russian officials.
Lawyers Paid Through Russian Banks Despite Sanctions
Several Lithuanian lawyers defending individuals accused of spying for Russia have received payments through Russian banks like Sberbank, even after 2023 sanctions. For instance, a Russian bank account was used to pay lawyer Burda with Russian roubles. Lawyer Tutkus defended this, saying receiving payment is a private matter.
Other lawyers, including Julija Asovskaja and Nikolajus Voinovas, also received Kremlin-backed funds through Pravfond, with invoices showing payments via Russian banks. While some deny holding such accounts, official documents to Pravfond tell a different story, raising questions about sanction violations.
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Legal Funding Amid Geopolitical Tensions
The Pravfond foundation has played a key role in financing legal defenses for Lithuanian individuals accused of espionage or actions against the state. Despite Western sanctions targeting both Sberbank and Pravfond, payments continued through various mechanisms, including bank transfers and cryptocurrency.
For example, lawyer S. Tomas, who fled Lithuania after vandalizing a controversial memorial and is now residing in Belarus and Cuba, received funding requests totaling €60,000 from Pravfond. When payments were initially frozen by a Panamanian bank, Tomas requested transfers via Ethereum or Bitcoin before ultimately receiving the funds.
Tomas also provided legal services for figures like Giedrius Grabauskas, wanted by Lithuanian authorities, seeking funding in cryptocurrency to challenge Lithuania before international human rights bodies in 2024.
Political Figures and Kremlin Links
The controversy extends beyond lawyers. Former Lithuanian politician Algirdas Paleckis, who was imprisoned for spying for Russia, has been connected to Kremlin money for propaganda and legal defense. Documents show Paleckis and his associates applied for and received Kremlin-backed grants via Pravfond, including for translating documents and filing complaints to international courts.
Jagelavičius, Paleckis’s associate and head of a Belarus-based organization continuing similar work after Lithuania’s counterpart was dissolved, has also been involved in organizing Kremlin-funded events and legal funding requests.
An operational interview with a Lithuanian State Security Department officer detailed Paleckis’s use of a Sberbank account in Russia’s Kaliningrad region to withdraw Kremlin funds monthly, confirming ongoing financial support despite sanctions.
National Security and Sanctions Enforcement
The Lithuanian Financial Crime Investigation Service (FNTT) confirmed it has no records of receiving requests for permits to receive funds from some of the implicated lawyers, raising concerns about transparency and compliance with sanctions enforcement.
While Lithuanian law allows for some exceptions to sanction rules—such as paying legal fees through sanctioned entities—payments through Russian banks remain highly sensitive and potentially illegal under international sanctions regimes.
The complex web of Kremlin-linked funding for Lithuanian legal defenses and political activism underscores ongoing challenges Lithuania faces in addressing hybrid threats and enforcing sanctions while respecting legal rights.
